Martial Era: Starting With The Strongest Talent-Chapter 157: Not All Schemes Have To Make Sense

Adam didn’t hesitate anymore.

He wanted the affinity and it was not only out of curiosity but pride and because he understood what it represented.

Lightning coated his body.

"Rapid Charge."

Electric arcs sharpened every nerve and muscle response.

Next he activated his other equipped special talents, as crystalline plating spread across his limbs.

Bone constructs layered over it, reinforcing joints and tendons for durability and structural amplification.

His Death aura flared outward in a dark haze as he coated Judgement with it, as the blade darkened further and he left Mind Control unused.

As a trump card.

If the shadow underestimated him, he would exploit it.

With multiple special talents active and Death affinity surging.

The ground beneath his feet cracked as he launched forward.

All he had to do was move it.

One inch or a step would be enough.

Adam expected resistance and he was prepared to adapt mid-swing and change tactics but as he neared the shadow it stood still.

Multiple affinities radiated outward from it in massive waves.

Holy Light.

Flame.

Wind.

Lightning.

Earth.

Death and more.

Adam closed the distance instantly, as he swung Judgement with everything he had and the blade connected with a thunderous impact.

BOOM!

The shadow launched backward violently and crashed far into the white expanse, sliding across the ground until it disappeared into the distance.

"..."

Adam froze mid-stance.

It had been moved too easily.

His instincts screamed at that moment something was wrong.

****

A low and amused laugh echoed across the endless white expanse.

"How gullible can you be?" the shadow said. "Now you will be a vessel for my revival."

Adam stared ahead calmly at where the shadow now stood in the distance.

He was just about to unequip the affinity, but he stopped.

The shadow began walking toward him slowly.

"You mortals are always the same," it continued. "Show you a glimpse of power, and you abandon all reason for it."

Adam’s expression remained composed.

"So all this was to make me a vessel?"

The faceless head tilted slightly.

"You seem awfully casual for someone who is about to lose himself."

Adam shrugged.

Then, unexpectedly he sat down on the white expanse.

"It’s because I don’t see the point in resisting."

The shadow paused mid-step.

Adam continued, voice even.

"For most of my life, my focus was fixated on a single goal."

A faint breath left him.

"But that goal has changed, as more details have come to light."

The shadow stared at him.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Adam looked up.

"Because I want you to accomplish that goal for me... Since I won’t be able to. You’ll be taking over, after all."

He let out an exaggerated sigh and that was the final warning sign as the shadow stopped completely.

Something felt off.

"What did you do?" it demanded.

Adam tilted his head slightly.

"What ever do you mean?"

The sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable.

The shadow immediately attempted to seize control but it failed.

If it had a face, it would have been stunned at this moment.

Without hesitation, it lunged toward Adam.

Hands of darkness stretching outward.

Adam looked up at the approaching entity and smiled faintly.

"I guess I’m not that good at acting," he admitted lightly. "Scheming was never really my thing."

Just before the shadow reached him—

Adam spoke one word.

"Vanish."

The shadow’s hands stopped inches from his face.

Then, Its entire form disintegrated into countless black motes, as they scattered into the expanse like ash in wind.

Adam remained seated alone in the infinite white before he stood up and brushed off his clothes casually.

"I knew it would be worth it in the end."

Cracks began forming across the expanse.

The white world fractured like shattered glass.

Light bled through the cracks.

Then, everything collapsed, Adam’s consciousness was pulled back and he was returned to the real world.

****

The shadow found itself in darkness, as looked around but Adam was nowhere to be seen and for a moment their was silence.

Then it screamed.

"Kraaaaahhh!"

Its affinity flared violently.

Countless attacks erupted outward into the void in a furious barrage but they struck mothing as the shadow kept on attacking.

Until the waves weakened, its fury thinned and it finally stopped, after what felt like hours.

"After ten thousand years..." it hissed. "When the perfect opportunity to escape appears..."

Its voice trembled with rage.

"It just had to be a freak."

It had lied to Adam.

Of course it had.

That much was obvious.

There had never been two phases of a test, only one.

And the challenge was never fixed.

It could shape the test however it pleased hence the reason the second test had been easy for Adam.

And the fact that a being that was supposed to be sealed had such free reign was because of the seal itself.

It made anyone that approached the shadow insane before killing them.

That mechanism had been flawless.

Until Adam.

For the first time in ages the shadow had glimpsed freedom.

But it had to be sure of the vessel first.

That was why it constructed the first test carefully.

Creating a familiar environment to ease Adam’s guard.

And although it didn’t have direct access to Adams memories it could feel impressions and anchors.

Making it easy to mimick the District.

Then next was the escalated waves of monsters to assess his value.

And the more Adam fought, the more the shadow desired him.

And just as it accused Adam.

Its own greed had led to its downfall.

It didn’t even understand how.

"That boy is not normal, in any way."

"It should have been obvious. From the moment he remained sane in your presence."

The shadow froze.

"Who said that?!"

Two massive eyes suddenly opened in the darkness and the shadow realized too late, that the darkness wasn’t empty.

It was an entity and before it could react.

It was Erased completely.

The eyes remained open for a moment longer.

"The boy should learn to clean up properly after himself," the entity said mildly.

Then it chuckled.

"What surprise will you show me next?"

The eyes closed, as the void returned to silence.